Efforts to secure the release of abducted pupils, teachers and school administrators in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are continuing through coordinated underground security operations, according to Professor Wole Alamu, husband of one of the kidnapped principals, Mrs. Folawe Alamu.
Professor Alamu disclosed this during a telephone interview on Wednesday with Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, amid growing national concern over the attack on schools in the Esiele community and the continued captivity of several victims.
While acknowledging widespread public anxiety surrounding the incident, the university don appealed for restraint in discussing operational details publicly, warning that premature disclosures could undermine ongoing rescue efforts.
“We are going to grant interview, but not now. The work is seriously being done underneath. Anything you say now may jeopardise the rescue operations,” he said.
Professor Alamu, however, commended Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, alongside security agencies, for what he described as relentless and coordinated intervention efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of the abducted victims.
His remarks came as security agencies intensified operations against armed bandits following the killing of a teacher, Michael Oyedokun, and the abduction of dozens of pupils, students, teachers and school administrators from schools within the Esiele axis of Oriire Local Government Area.
A viral video which surfaced online earlier had shown the abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, Mrs. Folawe Alamu, emotionally appealing to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, security agencies, the Christian Association of Nigeria and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and facilitate their rescue.
In the footage, the visibly distressed principal disclosed that the abductees had remained in captivity since the attack on the schools.
The coordinated invasion reportedly targeted Community Grammar School, Esiele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as L.A Primary School, where armed hoodlums abducted several pupils, teachers and school administrators during the assault.
The Oyo State Police Command had earlier confirmed that an assistant headmaster identified as Mr. Adesiyan and a commercial motorcyclist were killed during the incident.
Meanwhile, security operations have intensified across the affected communities and surrounding forest corridors believed to be harbouring the kidnappers.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was also reported to have arrived in Oyo State to personally oversee a technology-driven rescue mission involving the deployment of the Police Intelligence Response Team and other specialised tactical units.
Governor Makinde had equally disclosed that two newly acquired surveillance aircraft were being prepared to provide aerial intelligence and operational support over forests suspected to be used by the abductors.
Security agencies further revealed that several suspects had been arrested for allegedly acting as informants to the kidnappers by helping them navigate routes within the Old Oyo National Park area.
The Oyo State Government maintained that while it remained open to negotiations that could facilitate the safe release of the victims, it would not support ransom payments to criminal elements.
Reacting to the development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the killing of one of the abducted teachers, describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President assured Nigerians that security agencies were working round the clock to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement read.
President Tinubu also reiterated the need for the establishment of state police, urging the National Assembly to accelerate legislative action towards its creation as part of broader measures to strengthen security architecture across underserved communities in the country.
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